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Find an emergency babysitter in San Mateo, CA

San Mateo families count on UrbanSitter for same-day emergency child care. In most areas, average response time for urgent needs is under two minutes.

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109 available babysitters in San Mateo, CA

Families in San Mateo turn to UrbanSitter for emergency and same-day babysitting.
105 available today | Avg hourly rate: $31.36/hr

Every babysitter on UrbanSitter completes an annual background check, and every profile is individually reviewed by our Trust and Safety team. Learn more.

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Virginia
Booked by 52 repeat families
92 reviews
$34 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 139 families in San Mateo, CA

Kind, nurturing, dependable mom 😊 here. New born to teenagers, I've been there and cared for them all. Experienced with ASD, ADHD, and deaf children. Multiple children, twins and care at events. Skilled at organization, household management, travel planning and project management. CPR, First Aid, Fire, Safety, Earthquake Response Trained / Cert. Non-smoker. TDAP, MMR, Flu up to date; as well as all other current vaccines. I enjoy teaching my autistic grandson, hanging out with my deaf daughter, or working on an engineering project. 🤗 I can sew on buttons and make minor repairs in clothes. I am fantastic at fabric paint, arts and crafts, etc. I like organizing, cleaning and cooking. Used to live on a farm growing up, there is no pet in your home that would intimidate me. * Special note: I am a living kidney donor to my friends son in 2013. I prefer not look after children who are very ill. If your child is running a fever, vomiting, or has just begun a raspy cough I would expect you pass me by; I will not show up to your home in this manner as well. Thank you for honoring my request. "If you want to touch the past, touch a rock. If you want to touch the present, touch a flower. If you want to touch the future, touch a life."

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Alena
Booked by 32 repeat families
45 reviews
$30 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 69 families in San Mateo, CA

I have been working with children for about 25 years. I have experience working with multiple children at a time and children different ages, including infants. Working with children has always been my passion. I am very energetic and love taking kids for walks, to the park, library, enjoy doing art projects, read books and just love watching kids grow and watch them learn new things. I also speak German and Bosnia . I am a mother of two school aged children. My son is 17 and daughter is 15 years old. I have worked with many families and therefore have many references. I am available for occasional evening and weekend babysitting.

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Juliette
Booked by 12 repeat families
29 reviews
$30 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 47 families in San Mateo, CA

Hello Urbansitter parents! I’ve been babysitting children, pet sitting & house sitting for 35+ years, but the last 9yrs here on Urbansitter. I just retired early from my full time job at Kaiser Permanente where I worked for the past 25 years. Prior to that, I worked as a medical assistant for a private Pediatrics office in San Mateo for 5 years. I love kids of any age, enjoy playing games, reading, going to the park, arts & crafts, cooking/baking, doing puzzles or watching a movie with them. I have many years experience with newborns/infants, toddlers, grade school kids & watching multiple kids together. I also drive some of the neighborhood kids where I live, to and from school and their afterschool activities. I have car seats available for toddlers & grade school kids. I have 1 rescue pup, love the outdoors & I have a passion for rescue animals, so I am more than willing to help out with your pets, big or small! Please feel free to contact me with any questions you might have. I try to keep my calendar as updated as possible, but you can always message me to check on the availability you need. I am COVID vaccinated & can supply proof of vaccinations. I am also First Aid, CPR & AED certified as well as fingerprinted & background checked. I look forward to meeting you & your family!

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Heidi
Booked by 15 repeat families
16 reviews
$33 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 51 families in San Mateo, CA

With 19 years of experience in education, I bring a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and genuine passion to every family I work with. Throughout my career, I have taught 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades and have served in school leadership roles. These experiences have given me a deep understanding of child development, learning, behavior, and how to create environments where children feel safe, supported, and successful. In addition to my professional career in education, I have provided babysitting and nanny services for more than 25 years. I have extensive experience caring for children from newborns through teenagers and am comfortable adapting to the unique needs of every age and stage. Excellent references are available upon request. Although my professional career has been in education and school leadership, I have continued providing childcare throughout the years because I truly enjoy working with children and supporting families. As I search for my next long-term leadership opportunity, I am excited to dedicate more of my time to caring for children—something that has always been one of the most rewarding parts of my life. Over the years, many of the children I've cared for have described me as "firm, fair, and fun"—and I truly believe all three can exist together. Parents have affectionately referred to me as the local "Super Nanny" and even "The Baby Whisperer," compliments that I cherish because they reflect the trust families place in me. My philosophy is simple: children thrive when they are loved, respected, and held to high expectations. I encourage kindness, good manners, personal responsibility, and respect for both others and their environment. I believe children should spend time outdoors, use their imagination, solve problems, and learn to work cooperatively with others—including their siblings. I create a warm, structured environment where children feel safe, capable, and confident while having plenty of fun along the way. Whether your family is looking for an occasional date-night sitter, a dependable nanny, homework support, or someone who can confidently care for multiple children, my goal is always the same: to provide exceptional care while giving parents complete peace of mind. I strive to become a trusted extension of your family and someone your children are excited to see each time I walk through the door.

“Heidi was great! She showed up early and even brought some toys. All 3 of my kids seemed to warm up to her right away and everyone went to bed on time.”

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Paula
Booked by 71 repeat families
96 reviews
$28 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 140 families in San Mateo, CA

Hello families! ¡Hola, Familias! I am Paula (or Pau). I was born and raised in Colombia; I moved to the US in 2014 as an Au Pair (live-in nanny). I worked with two families in two different cities and have remained a nanny ever since. Some of the things I love are music, spending time outdoors, animals, hiking, dancing, swimming, and reading. My experience with kids began when I was 10. I come from a huge family, so I've been around kids my whole life. I am very energetic and creative so I like to come up with different activities age-convenient outside and inside the house, I have worked with kids of all ages including twins, newborns and toddlers; I love to spend time with kids, I like to play with them and teach them new things (like Spanish) and I think that security is the key to proper development for the kids so my primary goal is to make kids feel safe to play and learn and have fun of course! If you have any questions/or you don't see availability in my calendar, please feel free to message me. Hablo español porque soy de Colombia. Si tiene dudas, preguntas o peticiones, por favor no dude en enviarme un mensaje, con mucho gusto le atiendo. Thank you for your interest. ****SITTER POLICY*** - By scheduling a booking with me, you're acknowledging that you've read and will abide by this policy. -PAYMENT: Cash only, please. -AVAILABILITY: Occasional and temporary part-time care. Pet and house sitting. -RATES: My rates are the same whether the child is awake or asleep and the rate per hour depends on the amount of chores and responsibilities I’ll be in charge of. I charge double time for the following holidays: New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, 4th of July, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Day after Christmas. CANCELATIONS: I understand that plans change. However, I do recommend a 48-hour notice so I can try to fulfill my calendar with a new booking. BOOKINGS: I charge for the full time I was booked for , regardless if I get dismissed earlier than expected because I plan my time and my budget around my bookings. So please, give me a 48h notice if you need to cancel. Also, if you plan on arriving later than expected, please let me know at least 1 hour before the booking is supposed to end. I'm usually flexible with late arrivals, but sometimes I have more than one booking on the same day, and your late arrival can negatively affect the rest of my day. Thanks for reading! :)

“Paula was great! Very calm and a natural caregiver. Our kids want to know when she's coming back....”

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How much does an emergency babysitter cost in San Mateo, CA?

  • Average hourly rate for 1 child: $31.36
  • Average hourly rate for 2 children: $37.21
  • Typical job length: 4.9 hours
  • Most requested times: Morning

As of October 2026

Recent babysitter activity in San Mateo, CA

When it's urgent, trust comes first

All UrbanSitter babysitters are background checked every year. Profiles are individually reviewed by our Trust and Safety team.

2,360 sitters background checked in San Mateo, CA

5.0 average star rating from total of 27,957 reviews in San Mateo, CA

photo of quoted parent Hillary

"We were incredibly grateful that Maya was able to help us out with a last-minute childcare emergency. She matched our 9-year-old's energy with arts & crafts, some quiet reading, and a walk around the neighborhood. We'd have Maya back in a heartbeat!"

Hillary S., parent

photo of quoted parent Theresa

"We used Tania for a last minute emergency. She responded very quickly. My daughter seemed to enjoy herself. My son napped most of the time. I enjoyed how she kept me updated by text."

Theresa M., parent

photo of quoted parent Lauren

"Hannah was awesome. Went above & beyond to help me with a last minute emergency. She was really sweet & great with my 16mo old. Highly recommend!!"

Lauren D., parent

Family with caregiver

Find emergency care in San Mateo

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Why families trust UrbanSitter for emergency babysitting

Trusted by San Mateo families

See which babysitters have been hired by parents in your San Mateo neighborhood, school, or parenting group.

Fast responses for urgent needs

Average response times for last-minute requests are under two minutes in most areas.

Background checked, every year

Every babysitter completes an annual background check, offering peace of mind when you need it most.

Reviews from local parents

Read reviews from local families, see repeat family counts, and compare profiles before you choose.

Frequently asked questions about emergency babysitters in San Mateo

How do I find an emergency babysitter in San Mateo?

Sign up for an UrbanSitter account, then share the date, time, and number of children who need care. Available sitters in San Mateo can respond, and you can review full profiles before booking.

How much does an emergency babysitter cost in San Mateo?

As of October 2026, babysitting rates in San Mateo average $31.36 per hour for one child, and vary by experience, number of children, and job length. For same-day care, offering a higher rate can help attract interest and a faster response. See average babysitting rates in your area.

Are babysitters in San Mateo on UrbanSitter background checked?

Yes. Every babysitter on UrbanSitter completes an annual background check, including those in San Mateo, and each profile is individually reviewed by our Trust and Safety team. See what's included in the background check.

Can I find a babysitter in San Mateo for today or tonight?

Yes. Same-day and tonight requests are common on UrbanSitter. Share your care needs and available sitters can respond. You can read reviews, watch profile videos, and choose the right fit.

What's the best way to find a babysitter in San Mateo on short notice?

On UrbanSitter, when an urgent need comes up, share your timing, location, and care needs so available sitters can respond. See tips for finding last-minute child care for additional ways to find support.

What do I do if my babysitter cancels in San Mateo?

Sign into UrbanSitter and submit a new urgent request with your timing, location, and care needs. Available sitters can respond, and you can compare reviews, profile videos, and response times before choosing.

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